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Thu, 20 October 2011
Gaddafi's bloodied corpse taken to Misrata: Reports

Timeline  Refresh

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19:46  

A clearer picture of Muammar Gaddafi's body has emerged. That's a Reuters picture... Scroll down for eyewitness reports.

Stay with rediff.com, for all the posts on the biggest story today... Good night.

 

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19:42   When Gaddafi embarassed India

A PTI report confirming Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi's death, says he once caused a major diplomatic embarassment to India when he supported the idea of an "independent state" for Kashmir and said that it should be a 'Baathist state' between India and Pakistan.    

In his maiden address to the UN General Assembly in 2009, he also mentioned India as among thecountries  that will be competing for a permanent seat in the Security Council while opposing the induction of big powersinto the powerful body.    

Gaddafi, who has rarely been a person India has been comfortable with, in his speech railed against India and Kashmir as well.

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19:37   90% sure pic is Gaddafi's, says former aide

Also on CNN.

Abubaker Saad, who worked for Gaddafi for nine years, spoke to CNN via Skype. He viewed a photo that news agency AFP says is Gaddafi bloodied and captured. Saad said he is "90 percent" sure that the man in the photo is Gaddafi.

Saad said he is "thrilled" at the news and that it was crucial to have Gaddafi captured or killed -- either one -- because as long as he was alive or free, he could possibly rally supporters and maintain some level of power. 

Saad is a professor in the history department at Western Connecticut State University. He teaches Middle East history and cultures.

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19:34   US: Looks like Gaddafi has been killed

A State Department official familiar with the latest information coming out of Libya said it "looks like he's been killed," but the department is still awaiting official confirmation, reports CNN.

 

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19:32  
Video: Al Jazeera footage of Muammar Gaddafi's last moments and his body.
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19:22   Flamboyant Gaddafi no stranger to bloodshed

Muammar Gaddafi's love of comic-opera uniforms, exotic female bodyguards and Bedouin tents provided a theatrical backdrop for 42 years of bloody repression that in the end could not withstand a determined uprising backed by NATO air power.

Read the profile on Reuters.com

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19:20   NTC vice chair confirms Gaddafi death

#LatestNews

On Reuters: Libyan NTC vice chairman Abdul Hafiz Ghoga confirms Muammar Gaddafi killed. But again, no independent confirmations.

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19:17   Sneak peek into Gaddafi's family of horrors

#LatestNews

The Daily Mail story in August on how Gaddafi's daughter-in-law threw boiling water over a nanny's head after she refused to beat her child. Warning: Pictures are horrific.

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19:13   Nato did not kill Gaddafi: Eyewitness

#LatestNews

Yet another eyewitness tells the BBC that it was the NTC and not Nato that killed Gaddafi, his son Mutassim and three aides.

 

No wonder Nato and the US are taking their time confirming the rumours of Gaddafi's death. As many 'eyewitnesses' as there are rumours.

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19:09   Gaddafi shot with 9mm gun: Eyewitness

Video: Gaddafi shot in abdomen, says another eyewitness. Speaking through a translator, the eyewitness said Libya's former leader had been shot with a 9mm gun. That's the video on bbc.co.uk. #LatestNews

 

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19:05   Gaddafi's son Saif still at large

#LatestNews

An NTC official says son Saif still at large, but another son, Mutasim was captured/killed with him..

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19:01   Gaddafi dead, eyewitness recounts final moments

#LatestNews  

Imad Moustaf, a rebel fighter, said he witnessed the capture and killing of toppled Libya leader Muammar Gaddafi Thursday in Sirte, the ruler's hometown. Moustaf said Gaddafi had been shot in the head and close to the heart on the outskirts of the western roundabout of Sirte, where he was hiding in a hole surrounded by bodyguards. Moustaf claimed to have been in the ambulance with Gaddafi when he died.  

 

Read the report on the Globalpost

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18:49   After Gaddafi what?

#LatestNews

How does a country recover from 40 years of destruction by an unchallenged tyrant? Read the Newsweek story

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18:46   Nato confirms airstrike on convoy in Sirte
Nato has just confirmed that there was a airstrike on a convoy in Sirte, but sitll no confirmation on whether Muammar Gaddafi is indeed dead. Apart from Libyan TV none of the reports confirm his death. Nato says it will take time to confirm the report. The Obama administration says it's also trying to confirm the rumours.
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18:41   When Gaddafi called Obama his son

Fareed Zakaria's 2009 interview with Muammar Gaddafi. Read it on cnn.com

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18:35   The Muammar Gaddafi story

#LatestNews

So, who was Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi? Here's his 'obituary' on the bbc.co.uk

How can you adequately describe someone like Muammar Gaddafi? During a period that spanned six decades, the Libyan leader paraded on the world stage with a style so unique and unpredictable that the words "maverick" or "eccentric" scarcely do him justice.

Read

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18:32   Whereabouts of Gaddafi's body unknown: NTC

#LatestNews

Even as Libyan TV said proof of Gaddafi's body will be shown soon, (the picture, purpotedly Gaddafi's body, is as yet unconfirmed) NTC says the whereabouts of Gaddafi's body is unknown.

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18:20   It's payback time for Gaddafi's hometown Sirte

#LatestNews

While Pentagon is yet to confirm Gaddafi's death, here's a report on his hometown Sirte, which is where he was allegedly captured.

 

The bbc.co.uk report on Sirte

Whatever favours Col Muammar Gaddafi may have bestowed upon Sirte while he was in power, it is certainly payback time now. The city, his birthplace, which he favoured above all others in Libya, is in ruins.

There is hardly a building left unscathed by the fighting. It is as though Sirte was a spoiled, molly-coddled child in an otherwise ignored family. The "siblings" are now exacting their revenge.

Read

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18:16  

And that's what Col Muammar Gaddafi looked like, when he was alive and well.

#LatestNews

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18:13  

Here's that picture captured on a cell phone. Gaddafi was apparently shot in the head and legs and died of his wounds.

 

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18:08   Is this Muammar Gaddafi's dying picture?

Is this the dying Muammar Gaddafi's picture?

That image was captured by a cell phone camera and claims to show the arrest of Gaddafi in Sirte. Photograph: Philippe Desmazes/AFP/Getty Images

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18:00   Libya TV: Evidence of Gaddafi's dead soon

#LatestNews

NTC leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil to address the nation shortly, even as Libyan TV says Gaddafi has in fact, been killed while trying to escape and his body is in Misrata and pictures of his body will be shown shortly.

Irrespective of whether Gaddafi is captured or killed, it certainly marks the beginning of a new chapter for Libya.

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17:54   Gaddafi dies of wounds, hit in the head: Reports

#LatestNews

Conflicting reports, but here it is...

On Reuters: Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi died of wounds suffered in his capture near his hometown of Sirte on Thursday, a senior NTC military official said.

National Transitional Council official Abdel Majid Mlegta told Reuters earlier that Gaddafi was captured and wounded in both legs at dawn on Thursday as he tried to flee in a convoy which NATO warplanes attacked.

"He was also hit in his head," the official said. "There was a lot of firing against his group and he died." There was no independent confirmation of his remarks.

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17:51   Libya erupts with gun salute at Gaddafi news

#LatestNews

Watch: Video of Libya celebrating Gaddafi's yet unconfirmed capture/death

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17:49   Libya erupts, God is great, at Gaddafi's capture/death

#LatestNews

A report on the Daily Beast says Tripoli erupted in celebration upon the news, as people cheered "God is great, God is great, Gaddafi has been captured."

All of Libya's major cities belong to the new government after its troops seized Sirte this morning. Troops loyal to Gaddafi had been holding out in his hometown for weeks, but government troops cleared them in a 90-minute push.

"There are no Gaddafi forces any more," said a government colonel. "We are now chasing his fighters who are trying to run away." Gaddafi loyalists' last refuge, now, is the town of Bani Walid, southeast of Tripoli.

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17:42   US still trying to confirm dead, alive reports

#LatestNews

Senior Obama administration official says the US is working to confirm reports of whether Gaddafi has been killed or captured, says Reuters.

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17:40   Nato warplanes attacked Gaddafi's convoy: NTC

#LatestNews

NTC official Abdel Majid has told Reuters that Col Gaddafi was found in a convoy which Nato warplanes attacked. However, there is no confirmation from Nato. Earlier reports however suggested that he was hiding in a hole and apparently said, Don't shoot, don't shoot."

 

Remember, these are breaking news updates, stay with us as the story unfolds.

Ground reports from across Libya filed by agencies, TV channels, still do not confirm whether Gaddafi is in fact, dead. Or as reported initially, simply captured.

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17:29   Gaddafi dies of wounds fleeing hometown?

#LatestNews

Reuters and Al Jazeera say that Libya's Muammar Gaddafi dies of wounds suffered during his capture near his hometown Sirte, says senior NTC military official.

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17:26   Ships, cars sound horns, guns fired in celebration
The BBC's correspondent in Tripoli says that though the capture/killing of Gaddafi is still unconfirmed, ships and cars have been sounding their horns and guns are being fired in celebration. 
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17:24   Libya dictator Gaddafi killed fleeing Sirte: Reports

#LatestNews

Colonel Muammar #Gaddafi was toppled in August after 42 years in power. The International Criminal Court is seeking his arrest. The National Transitional Council (NTC) official Abdel Majid says, "He's captured. He's wounded in both legs. He's been taken away by ambulance."

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17:20   Gaddafi corpse arrives in Mirsrata
Al Arabiya says the corpse of Muammar Gaddafi has arrived in Misrata. But no other news channel confirms this.  
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17:17   Flashback: Saddam caught like a rat in a hole

The CNN report: Across the Tigris River from his opulent palaces, Saddam Hussein shuttered himself at the bottom of a narrow, dark hole beneath a two-room mud shack on a sheep farm, a US military official said Sunday.

Having opted not to travel with security forces or an entourage that might bring attention to him, only a Styrofoam square, dirt and a rug separated the deposed Iraqi leader from the U.S. soldiers who routed him from his hiding place Saturday night. "He was in the bottom of a hole with no way to fight back," said Maj. Gen. Raymond Odierno. "He was caught like a rat."

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17:14   Gaddafi alive or dead?
Conflicting reports emerging on whether Muammar Gaddafi has been captured or killed, since an Al Jazeera report says his body has been taken to Misrata.
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17:12   Gaddafi critically injured
The US Department says Gaddafi's capture has not been confirmed, but Al Jazeera says #Gaddafi is in a critical condition and his 'body' has been taken to  Misrata. Gaddafi's son Mutassim has also been captured.   
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17:10   Captured Gaddafi hiding in hole says 'Don't shoot!'

Reuters says that a Libyan government fighter said Gaddafi was hiding in a hole in Sirte, shouting "don't shoot, don't shoot".

Uncanny similarity with the late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

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17:05   Libya celebrates at Gaddafi's 'capture'
Scenes of celebration in Libya following unconfirmed reports of capture of deposed leader Gaddafi, says CNN reporting from Sirte. 
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17:04   Gaddafi hometown Sirte falls

Earlier today, Libyan fighters said they had taken control of the last holdout of Muammar Gaddafi loyalists in his hometown of Sirte.

The National Transitional Council fighters said they were still battling pockets of resistance in that district of the city, but they were in control of the district. The council has said it will officially declare Libya liberated when Sirte falls.

Read the report on CNN.

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17:01   Rebels says Gaddafi captured in Sirte
#LatestNews: Sky News reported that #Gaddafi had been wounded in both legs prior to his capture.
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16:59   Gaddafi captured, wounded in both legs: Reports

The Daily Mail reports: Muammar Gaddafi has been captured by revolutionary forces in Libya, it has been reported today. Gaddafi and his family have been on the run since Nato and rebel forces started closing the net on Tripoli in mid-August. The reports of Gaddafi's capture came on the same day that revolutionary forces said that they had taken control of Sirte - the leader's home town.

Initial reports from CNN and the revolutionary council said Gaddafi was in custody, while Al Jazeera reported that a 'big fish' had been caught but did not provide a name.

BBC says: A senior commander in Libya's transitional authorities says they have captured former Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi.

The news came after transitional forces claimed control of Sirte, Col Gaddafi's birthplace and the last city where fighters loyal to him had held out. Col Gaddafi came to power in Libya in 1969. He was toppled in an uprising that began in February. The International Criminal Court is seeking his arrest

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16:55   Gaddafi captured, wounded in both legs?
Just in: A Reuters story says that former Libya leader Muammar Gaddafi has been captured and has been wounded in both legs. Details soon.
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16:53   Can't pronounce judgement on Bedi yet: Khurshid

#KiranBedi update #LatestNews

Taking a dig at Kiran Bedi over allegations that she charged her hosts full fare on air tickets while availing discount, Law Minister Salman Khurshid today said unlike Team Anna he cannot pass "ex-parte" judgements on people.

 "I don't find myself equipped or able to pronounce a judgement on anybody as quickly as I feel judgement is pronounced on many of us by the movement (led by Anna Hazare) in which Kiran Bedi has a very significant role...I don't find
myself in a position to pass ex parte judgements," he said.

Khurshid said perhaps Bedi herself will come up with a "satisfactory explanation" while noting that no one should be condemned without being heard.

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16:50   Mr Bean finds US a tough nut to crack

If Rowan Atkinson or Mr Bean as he is better known, had any doubts about his international appeal, they've been put to rest by stories he keeps hearing from English aid workers returning from trips to Africa.

And what are those stories? Read the report on the LA Times

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16:33   Kiran Bedis indiscretions: Lets be less judgemental

Azim Premji, Chairman of Wipro, and one of India's wealthiest individuals, is once believed to have sacked a employee who travelled from Chennai to Mumbai by second class, but claimed first class reimbursement because he was entitled to it. His logic: "At Wipro there are no exceptions. And there's no price you are not willing to pay for doing the right thing."

A case of high ethics? Let's see.

 

Read the story on Firstpost.com

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16:30   Rajeev Shukla: The man who really runs cricket
The IPL chief has a plan to protect Tests, he tells Stephen Brenkley in Chandigarh. Just don't inform the players. The Independent.co.uk has the story.
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16:28   Maha govt to take credible action against Lavasa

The Maharashtra government today informed the Bombay HC that it would initiate "credible" action against Lavasa Corporation for violation of environmental laws within two weeks, after which the union environment ministry could reconsider its passed order. 

Ministry of Environment and Forests had on October 13 passed an order in the matter stating it would be able to take final decision on environment clearance only after the five pre-conditions laid down by the ministry are complied with by Lavasa and the state government.

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16:18   SC orders medicals of alleged Maoist Soni in Kolkata

The Supreme Court directs medical examination of alleged Maoist conduit Soni Suri to be done outside Chhattisgarh. Sori's medical test to be done in Kolkata and a report is to be filed by November 15.

The Supreme Court today passed orders for an independent medical examination of the suspected Maoist conduit for the injuries she allegedly suffered while she was in Chhattisgarh Police custody earlier this month.

The tribal teacher, arrested in Delhi Oct 4 by the Chhattisgarh Police, is accused of receiving "protection money" from the Essar group on behalf of the rebels. The company has denied funding the Maoists.

Sori was taken from Delhi to Raipur by Chhattisgarh Police Oct 7. A judicial magistrate in Chhattisgarh Oct 8 remanded her to police custody till Oct 10.

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16:13   Indian players don't get enough time to recover: Rhodes

Former South African fielding great Jonty Rhodes feels Indian players just don't get enough time to recover, thanks to the crammed international cricketcalendar and most of them carry on despite fatigue for the fear of losing their place in the side. 

According to Rhodes, India has a huge pool of talented players and therefore they prefer not to take a break for the fear of losing their place in the national team.

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16:04   Britain's labour laws sloth-inducing, says China
How China sees Britain: Britain's 'sloth-inducing' labour laws and lavish welfare system are at the root of the country's economic malaise, a senior member of the Chinese government warned last night. Read the story in the Daily Mail.
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16:01   ANC member calls Indians coolies
#LatestNews South Africa's ruling ANC's firebrand youth leader Julius Malema, who was recently convicted of hate speech, has landed in yet another controversy by allegedly using a racial slur against ethnic Indians, calling them "coolies".
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15:55   Are the Ambanis on a downward spiral?

Yesterday, Mukesh Ambani made news for his 27-floor highrise home, today, it's brother Anil, for an entirely different reason.

Last week, when Anil Ambani announced to shareholders his plans to sell stakes in his telecom, asset management and general insurance businesses in order to reduce his enormous, acknowledged debt burden of Rs 31,975 crore -- it had all the signs of a desperate man at the end of the road. Read the story on Moneylife.in

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15:51   The Marilyn Monroe you have never seen before
On the Daily Mail: Portrait of an icon: Never before seen images of injured Marilyn Monroe taken on set of River Of No Return. See
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15:31   Jaya answers 300 questions in morning at court

Here's the news from the Bangalore trial court.

After lunch break, the proceedings both at the special court and the High Court have commenced. While Jayalalithaa answered nearly 300 questions while recording her statement, Yeddyurappa's lawyers continued arguments at the Karnataka high court.

Yeddy's counsel is stressing on the point that the case against his client is frivilous. However the court observed that they need to put out a valid ground if they chose to seek interim bail.

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15:27   CBI starts valuation of Jagan properties

#LatestNews

The CBI has started the process of evaluating the wealth of Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, son of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, in the alleged disproportionate assets case against him. A team of agency officials today reached his residence here for the "valuation" of his house and other properties, CBI sources said.

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15:24   18 Bengal tigers, 17 lions shot in great Ohio escape

Bizarre big game hunt ends in blood bath: Nearly FIFTY exotic animals running wild in Ohio shot dead after reserve owner set them free then killed himself.

See the pictures on the Daily Mail.

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15:19   Junk food can make men infertile: Study

Health update:

Love to gorge on those lip-smacking burgers and french fries? Beware, as a new study has found that young men who eat junk food are more likely to be
infertile. Researchers from the Harvard University in the US and the University of Murcia, Spain, found that eating diets high in trans-fats -- an ingredient found in most processed foods -- could damage sperm of young healthy men.

 

Also see our 14:25 pm post for the other health updates...

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15:17   The man with the magic fingers
Singer, songwriter, rocker or band... every musician worth his melody wants a piece of him but not without reason. Read the interview with Amyt Dutta on the Telegraph, Calcutta.
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14:54   Doc could have Michael Jackson alive

Update on the Michael Jackson trial.

An expert claimed yesterday that the singer would be alive today if the doc accused of killing him had acted professionally. Dr Conrad Murray's delay in calling for help was "inexcusable", said Dr Steven Shafer. Read the story on the sun.co.uk.

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14:50  

Quick takes:

The BJP today said apprehensions of villagers over the Koodankulam nuclear power project were "valid and genuine" and the Centre should address the people's concerns.

 

LeT founder and JuD chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, has threatened journalists for what he says backing an "anti-jihad spirit" in Pakistan and asked them to be aware of the consequences.

 

 

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14:48   Ravi Shankar did not try to impress me: George Harrison

"Ravi was the first person who did not try to impress me but in turn I was impressed by him," Beatles legend George Harrison says about his first meeting
with Sitar maestro Ravi Shankar in Martin Scorsese's documentary 'George Harrison: Living In the Material World'. 

The meeting not only began a great friendship between two great musicians but was also catalyst in introducing Harrison to Indian philosophy, which impacted every aspect of his life. 

"His meeting with Ravi was not just between two individuals but of two cultures. It was a great cultural exchange," says Olivia Harrison, wife of the late Beatle and producer of the documentary which chronicles Harrison's journey to fame and his search for spirituality.

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14:44  
The legendary country singer Glen Campbell is about to start a UK tour despite being in the grip of Alzheimer's. The story on the Telegraph.co.uk.
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14:39   Round 2: Microsoft seeks to buy Yahoo

Microsoft is working on a fresh bid to acquire internet giant Yahoo Inc and may rope in private equity firm Silver Lake Partners and a Canadian pension board to partly fund the takeover, a report has said.

Under a proposal being discussed, Microsoft would put up several billions of dollars, while additional funding would be sought from the banks and its buyout partners like Silver Lake and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.

Yahoo had rebuffed a USD 44.6 billion takeover bid earlier in 2008 from the world's largest software maker Microsoft, which has made a few other failed attempts too in the past to acquire the internet company.

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14:35   Did Iran prez Ahmadinejad steal billions?

#All

In other news, an outspoken critic of the Iranian government -- and son of a conservative cleric -- has accused Iran president Ahmadinejad of being linked to a banking scandal. Read the story on the Daily Beast.

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14:31   No compromise on Arunachal territory: Advani

Update on the LK Advani's yatra:

Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and there cannot be any compromise on the issue, BJP leader L K Advani said today. Addressing a meeting at Naharlagun near Itanagar, as part of his yatra, Advani said his party's stand is clear and it would not compromise on the issue although China has laid claims to the territory.
He said the BJP's stand was conveyed to Chinese President Hu Jintao during his visit to New Delhi, Advani said.

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14:25   1/3rd of population doesn't drink enough water

#All

Health experts often estimate that the amount of fit, physically active men and women who are in an under-hydrated state is close to one-third of the population. With so many sports drinks, sodas, juices and fancy beverages on the market, you'd figure we would have tanks brimming with liquids. But it's similar to the obesity problem, in that, despite all the available nutritional information and healthy eating alternatives, people still ignore them.

Read and rehydrate.

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14:21   China may soon own the moon, US warned

#All

Commercial space entrepreneur Robert Bigelow is worried that the US may lose the new game of "solar system monopoly" and that China might soon be the owner of the moon.
The entrepreneur said the ownership of the moon, is up for grabs, and China is likely to snag it. Bigelow, the owner of aerospace company Bigelow Aerospace
in Las Vegas, said at the 2011 International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight that by the time America gets into gear to build its own moon base, large swaths of lunar territory may already be claimed.

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14:18   Serious cracks surface in Team Anna unity
Decide for yourself: Are the cracks in Team Anna for real? After the Indian Express story on #KiranBedi allegedly inflating her travel bills, read this story for why much of civil society believes Team Anna is unravelling ... and fast. The story on the Wall Street Journal.
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14:12   Is Sri Lanka South Asias most business-friendly country?
From the Wall Street Journal: While the business climate in South Asian countries is improving, excessive regulations mean it is far from easy for local entrepreneurs to run their businesses here, according to a new report by the World Bank. Although India is one of the world's fastest-growing major economies, the report reminds us that it's not that business-friendly. Read
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14:03  

Shashi Tharoor on Twitter: Sneak peek inside HRD Minister Kapil Sibal's consultative meeting with MPs on educational reforms. Six bills are to be passed today. See

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14:00  
The dates for the Winter session of Parliament are in: It's from Nov 21 to Dec 23.
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13:59   EC wants to hold 5 state polls by Feb 2012

Our Delhi correspondent gives us this report.

The 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly's tenure ends on May 20, 2012, while that of the 40-member Goa Assembly ends on June 14. The Election Commission has informed the Centre that it is looking at a one-window option to conduct  the Assembly elections here with those in Punjab, Uttarakhand and Manipur and complete them by February end. 

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13:44   Yeddy bail hearing to continue after lunch

#LatestNews

The Karnataka High Court has adjourned proceedings on the bail plea filed by BS Yeddyurappa to 2.30 pm. Arguments on the inetrim bail plea by a battery of lawyers will continue in the afternoon after the court resumes following a lunch break.

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13:36   Amitabh gets fourth doctorate
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan was today awarded an honorary doctorate by the Queensland University of Technology, Australia. This is the fourth doctorate awarded to the actor. He was earlier conferred upon by the De Montfort Univ, Leicester UK, Jhansi University and the Delhi University.

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13:34   Rajendra Prasad's watch up for auction

In nostalgia news: Relatives of India's first president have sought the intervention of the country's ambassador to Switzerland to try and halt the sale of a rare watch once owned and worn by the man who played a seminal role in the nation's history.

The Independent report says that the great grandson of the late Rajendra Prasad has written to the embassy in Geneva, requesting it to step in and try and ensure the 18 carat pink gold Rolex Oyster is somehow returned to India. The auctioneers insist the watch is being sold legitimately and estimate it will fetch up to 140,000 when it comes under the hammer next month. Read

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13:28   Team Anna showing its true colours: Cong

The Congress launches another attack on #KiranBedi.

Party spokesperson Rashid Alvi said. "One colleague of Anna Hazare demands plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir [Prashan Bhushan], the other says Anna is above Parliament [Arvind Kejriwal] and now the third one is found charging more money from her hosts than she actually paid on her airfare [Kiran Bedi]. All of them are now showing their true colours."

His remarks came after allegations were levelled against Bedi, a key member of Team Anna, that she used her gallantry medal to get 75 per cent discount on Air India tickets and then submitted inflated invoices to claim full fare from the
organisers who invited her to a function.

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13:22   Maharashtra renames its 'Unwanted' girls
Around 200 girls in Maharashtra will have a new name Friday: They will no longer be called "unwanted. A field survey in Satara district, which also happens to be Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan's home town, has revealed that 222 girls under the age of 18 years, were named "Nakusa,' a Marathi word which translates to "unwanted' in English. Read the story on the Wall Street Journal.
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13:19   On Twitter

If you've been following the #KiranBedi story today, here's a tweet:

Kiran Bedi is the Robin Hood of Team Anna.She takes money from rich corporations and gives it to poor NGOs.

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13:18   Technical snag forces emergency landing of AI flight

#LatestNews

A Mumbai-bound Air India flight with 70 passengers on board made an emergency landing at the Raja Bhoj airport in Bhopal within 15 minutes of its take-off for Indore due to a technical snag, sources said today. All the passengers were deplaned safely and were taken to Indore and Mumbai by another flight this morning.

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13:16   'James Murdoch knew phone hacking was widespread'
More on the Mudochs: British lawmakers are of the view that News of The World CEO James Murdoch knew much more of the tabloids phone hacking scandal than he has already revealed after evidence emerged that he had been told it was not just the work of a single rogue reporter. 
 
Lawyers who acted for News International in negotiating the 2008 settlement yesterday suggested to MPs that Murdoch had been told by the then editor that the practice was more widespread. 
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13:11   Will the House of Murdoch survive?

The almost forgotten News of the World story gets a fresh airing.

The Daily Beast reports that as News Corp's annual shareholders meeting approaches, the question on everyone's lips: will the House of Murdoch fall. Long-favored son (and heir apparent) James teeters on the edge, and Rupert is still trying to convince all comers he's more gaga than gung-ho. Read

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13:06   Arab Spring helped free Israeli swap soldier

More than five years have passed since Palestinian operatives burrowed under the Israel-Gaza border and captured a 19-year-old Israeli soldier named Gilad Shalit. During those years, efforts to reach an agreement that would free Shalit in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails came and went, several times appearing excruciatingly close to success.

The best efforts of mediators and negotiators from Germany, Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian territories always ended in failure. Until now.

Read the story on cnn.com

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13:04   US court allows acccess to Headley tapes

The other big story in the papers this morning: A US court Wednesday allowed media outlets access to parts of the video tapes, which were played during the trial of LeT operative David Headley's childhood friend and 26/11 attacks co-accused Tahawwur Rana. Read more

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12:53   Karuna: Jayalalithaa has finally bowed to justice

#LatestNews: Former Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK boss M Karunanidhi reacts to arch rival Jayalalithaa's court appearance today, saying she has finally bowed to justice. He said he will not seek her resignation, since that's her habit.

 

Read: Jaya in Bangalore court for day-long hearing

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12:48   Yeti slippers from China and a decimal point
On the Daily Mail: Missed decimal point sees slipper ordered from China returned as size 1,450... big enough for owner to sleep in. It was meant to be 14.5! See the picture
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12:41   Clooney says he won't run for office
Brief break from India news, to say that George Clooney, whose new film The Ides of March has its UK premiere later, has said he has no plans to enter politics. However, the Hollywood star said he would continue to be involved on the sidelines. Clooney, 50, admitted that getting involved in political issues sometimes made him "very unpopular". The report on the BBC.
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12:39   Digvijay asks Bedi to come clean on tickets charge

Congress leader Digvijay Singh gets climbs on to the Kiran-Bedi-guilty bandwagon.

He has asked Team Anna member Kiran Bedi to come clean on allegations that she charged her hosts full fare on air tickets while availing discounts. "This is a very serious allegation and Kiran Bedi should come clean in this," Singh said here.

The allegations against Bedi that she charged her hosts full fare on air tickets while availing discounts were denied by the activist who claimed that there was "no personal" gain.

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12:34   Swedish FM to meet Aakash maker during Nobel week

Carl Bildt tweets: South Asia in diplomatic focus at the moment. Hillary Clinton in Islamabad. French FM Juppe as well as myself in Delhi.  

 

The meeting also fits in with the week-long Sweden-India Nobel Memorial Week organised by the embassy that honours Nobel laureates and celebrates innovations in diverse fields. The theme for the fifth edition of the memorial week is "innovation and creativity for development", reports IBN Live.

Bildt, the Swedish foreign minister, began his three-day visit to India on Tuesday from Mumbai, where his focus was on promoting trade and investment between the two countries.

He will hold wide-ranging talks with External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and also meet National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon.

The talks are expected to focus on intensifying trade and investment and enhanced cooperation in renweable energy, in which Sweden is seen as a pioneer.

Bildt will also meet Sunnet Singh Tulli, the man behind the world's cheapest tablet computer.

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12:28   This day, 16 years ago...
Taran Adarsh tweets: #DDLJ released on 20 October 1995. 16 years ago. Recall watching the film at a private screening then. Still mesmerized by it!
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12:20   Veggies, fruit, milk, poultry dearer

Food inflation is back in double digits after a gap of a month-and-a-half and stood at 10.60 per cent for the week ending October 8 on the back of costlier
vegetables, fruits, milk and protein-based items.

Food inflation, as measured by Wholesale Price Index, stood at 9.32 per cent in the previous week. The rate of price rise of food items stood at 15.72 per cent in the corresponding week of 2010.

As per data released by the government today, vegetables became 17.59 per cent more expensive year-on-year during the week ended October 8. Fruits grew dearer by 12.39 per cent, milk by 10.80 per cent and eggs, meat and fish by 14.10 per cent on an annual basis.

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12:17   Why troop movement has gone up on AfPak border
Back to neighbourhood news: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in Afghanistan yesterday, in what is being termed as a surprise visit, to speak with leaders there as tensions mount between neighboring Islamabad and Washington over efforts to crack down on Islamist militants on Pakistani turf. Read
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12:16   Food inflation up

Incidentally, food inflation rose to 10.60 from 9.32 for week ended October 8. That's going to be fodder for Jaya's cannons.

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12:14   After day in court today, Jaya to attack UPA2 on Saturday

Our Delhi correspondent says that Tamil Nadu CM J #Jayalalithaa plans to launch a full frontal attack on the UPA2 in Delhi on Saturday during the National Development Council meet. Her speech will be critical of rising inflation and the Planning Commission.

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12:08   Pak hopes to join India on UN council
Neighbourhood news: Pakistan says iot hopes to win a seat on the UN Security Council as a temporary member alongside archrival India when the United Nations holds annual elections to the 15-nation body on Friday. Read the Reuters report
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12:06   Sleeping giant, slumbering dragon meet
In other news: India and China spearhead growth in global online travel. Read
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12:04   PM reacts to 'weak UPA', blames coalition politics

Moving on from Ms Bedi, the PM reacts to Sharad Pawar's statement of a 'weak UPA'.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, "We are in a coalition government. In a coalition government, there are bound to be differences," Singh said when referred to remarks by Agriculture Minister and NCP chief that the UPA-II was "weak" and the attitude of Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on various issues. 

"The real test is that we should not allow these differences to undermine cohesiveness of the government," the Prime Minister said last evening while interacting with accompanying journalists on board his special plane on his way
back from Pretoria after a three-day visit. 

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12:00   Bedi: I have nothing to hide

Here's #KiranBedi's entire statement in the aftermath of the Indian Express report saying she inflated her travel bills.

Bedi, a key member of Team Anna said: "I have nothing to hide. Whatever money came from the organisers of functions, it went to the institution.

"I get a lot of money through my lectures and royalty on books. I donate it to the NGOs," she later told reporters.

She also claimed that she herself downgraded her travel and even organisers knew about it. "The person is aware that I am downgrading my travel. Organisers appreciate it. They say we appreciate your gesture that you have saved money for the Foundation."

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11:56   Sachin fined Rs 4.35 lakh for staying in new home without OC

CNN IBN has this report:

Mumbai civic authorities have slapped a hefty fine on iconic cricketer Sachin Tendulkar for his new home in the city. The cricketer paid the BMC Rs 4.35 lakh for staying in his four-storeyed bungalow in Mumbai's suburb Bandra, before he received the Occupancy Certificate from the BMC.

Chief Engineer (Development Plan) R Kukanur, said, "He will be penalised Rs 4.75 lakh for inhabiting a house before getting the OC. It was due in procedure and he would have got the OC in the next four days."

In fact, the BMC warning had come on the day of the bhoomi puja.

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11:49   Brief Nuke emergency at Karachi reactor after leakage
A nuclear reactor in Karachi reported leakage in a heavy water pipe, triggering a nuclear emergency, a media report said today. The emergency was declared at the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant at Tuesday midnight after the leak in the primary heat transport system of the nuclear plant at Hawkesbay was detected.  The emergency continued till 7 am, when the situation was brought under control.
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11:45   Convoy stopped, Rahul heckled in mom's constituency
#LatestNews: Rahul Gandhi heckled at Amethi, his convoy was stopped by activists shouting anti-Congress slogans. The protestors demanded tickets for clean candidates. Unthinkable that this happening in his mother's constituency.
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11:34   Malik's problem is he wants to be in headlines: Gilani

While on Pakistan, the Dawn has this story.

Anybody who is privy to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, has no doubts that he does not like Interior Minister Rehman Malik mainly because of his weakness for antics.

But of late the premier has started speaking his mind about Malik with regularity. While sharing a meal with some parliamentarians recently, Gilani expressed his serious reservations over Malik`s latest claim about uncovering a plot to kidnap PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto in Karachi. Read

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11:27   Expert group on Kudankulam N-project set up

Update on Kudankulam:

To assuage the fears of the locals and the Tamil Nadu government, the Centre today announced setting up of a 15-member group of experts over the Kudankulam nuclear plant project. "We have set up a 15-member group of experts," officials said here.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had last night said that the committee promised by him to convince stakeholders in the Kudankulam nuclear power project would be set up today.

The group of experts from various disciplines such as radiation safety, reactor safety, oncology, fisheries and nuclear waste management will interact with the local population in and around Kudanakulam where two 1000 MW nuclear power plants built with Russian collaboration are in advanced stages of completion.

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11:25   Barkha Dutt in shortlist of five Global TV Greats of 2011

And while on headlines, the Sri Lanka Guardian, has this:

Barkha Dutt, the versatile TV journalist of India who is the Group Editor of NDTV, a national 24-hour news channel, has been short-listed along with four other TV greats, for consideration for selection as the International TV Personality of the Year 2011 by a panel of independent judges.

 

Read

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11:18   Clinton hits Pak today in the backdrop of Kayanis comments

We will keep you posted with more updates on the Jaya case.

 

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives in Pakistan today to hold talks and press the country to crack down on the Haqqani network to facilitate the process of reconciliation in neighbouring Afghanistan.

Yesterday Army chief General Kayani warned the US against any unilateral action in the tribal belt that is considered a safe haven for the Haqqani network and other militant groups.

Kayani said that Pakistan was a nuclear power that could not be compared to Iraq or Afghanistan. The US would "have to think ten times" before taking any unilateral action within Pakistan, he said.

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11:11   Jaya to depose till 5 pm with a 1-hr lunch break

Vicky Nanjappa gets us this update from Bangalore.

There were some minor skirmishes at the Special Court as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J #Jayalalithaa entered the hall. A battery of her lawyers/supporters who were present at the venue, demanded that they be let inside the hall. This led to arguments, but the police quickly brought the situation under control.

Jayalalithaa's statements will go on till 5 pm barring a lunch break between 2 pm and 3 pm. The Additional Commissioner,  four DCPs and 1500 police personnel are standing guard.

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11:01   First phase of 7km Bangalore metro launched

#LatestNews: The first phase of the Bangalore metro has just been launched. It will be a 7 km stretch connecting the east of the city to the business district and is expected to ease traffic woes. The 14-minute ride covers six stations. The metro will be open to the public from 4 pm today.

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10:58   Tight security cordon for Jaya's court appearance

If you've just joined us, here's the update on J Jayalalithaa's court apperance today.

The Supreme Court had yesterday rejected #Jayalalithaa's plea for postponing the hearing in the case against her by a few days and asked her to appear before the special court. 

She had also failed in her attempts to get the venue of the proceedings shifted closer to the Jakkur airport with both the apex court and the Special Court turning down her last minute plea.

The Special Court had also ordered her to be present. The Bangalore City Police have imposed prohibitory orders around the Parappana Agrahara jail from last evening. A tight security blanket has been thrown around the jail and also from the airport upto the prison.

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10:53   Jaya waits it out in special van outside Bangalore court
#LatestNews: Update on Jayalalithaa who is at the Bangalore court for the hearing on the disproportionate assets case (Rs 66 crore and counting). Rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa says that the proceedings will commence at 11 am, any time now, and till she is called into the court, Jaya will wait it out at a special van that has been arranged for her. Only her lawyers have been allowed into the court for security reasons.  
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10:50   Will Bedi take the bus?

Ramesh Srivats tweets: No point inviting Kiran Bedi to the Bangalore Metro launch. She'll take some bus instead and claim the Metro ticket fare.

 

The Bangalore metro will be launched today...

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10:47   Bedi: Travelled economy so that NGOs save, no gain

#LatestNews: Kiran Bedi responds on Twitter:

"Its very interesting to see how saving for CAUSES by choosing to travel economy makes a headline in a newspaper! Business class travel is part of the invitation/entitlement from the event organizers/corporates who I'm asked to speak at. Travelling economy in reasonable discomfort despite entitlement is to ensure that savings remain with the NGOs. No personal gain here. Sorry to disappoint detractors trying real hard to find a smoking gun.

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10:42   Lokpal Bedi gets hosts to pay full fare
#LatestNews: The Indian Express story further says that records of bills, invoices and copies of cheques show that Bedi, who is entitled to a rebate on Air India tickets as a gallantry award winner, pays discount fares, but charges her host institutions the full fare. She has also, at times, claimed Business class fare while flying Economy.
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10:40   Kiran Bedi buys discount tickets, gets hosts to pay full fare
Is this the end of Team Anna? The Indian Express story this morning says that Kiran Bedi, one of the most vocal members of Team Anna, who riled Members of Parliament with her Ramlila ghoonghat act, may herself have some explaining to do. The issue: the inflated travel expenses she has been charging NGOs and institutions which invite her for seminars or meetings.  Read
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10:33   Jaya reaches court, to depose at 10:55 am

It's a big day for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who has been asked by the Supreme Court to appear at a Bangalore court. Jaya arrived at Bangalore in a special aircraft. Guarded by 1,500 police personnel, she was driven to the Special Court which is at Parapana Agrahara, 20 kilometres away from the city. She will have to step into the box at 10.55 am following which her statement will be recorded.

 

Yeddy update: The Karnataka High Court will hear the bail plea filed by former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa. The matter to be heard by Justice Pinto is listed at serial number 55 and is expected to come up by 11.30 am.

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10:28   Sarkozys have baby girl

Good morning! First up, French President Nicolas Sarkozy's supermodel wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy has given birth to a daughter. "For the moment we don't know the little girl's name," a source in the first lady's inner circle confirmed to AFP, as the world's media gathered near the La Muette clinic in Paris and Sarkozy returned from talks on the future of the eurozone in Frankfurt.

Sarkozy arrived at the clinic shortly before 11:00 pm (local time), just over three hours after the birth. "It happened between 7:00 and 7:30 pm. Everything went well," a second source told AFP.

The staff at the clinic hasbeen reminded of the strict duty of medical  confidentiality, and Sarkozy's office was silent.

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